Trustees. Annual
Report'24-'25
**2**
## **Contents**
|**Contents**||
|---|---|
|Introduction|3|
|Objectives|6|
|Infant Feeding|9|
|Elayos Baby Bank|10|
|Fundraising|16|
|Voices of Impact|20|
|Structure, Governance & Management|24|
|Reserves|25|
|Finances|26|
**3**
## **Elayos is the legal name of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) granted charitable status on 23/09/2019**
|**Charity Number**|**Trustees**|**Bookkeeper**|
|---|---|---|
|1185455|Trustees who served during this period and up|Matthew Skelton-Smith|
||to the date of this report were as follows:|91 Chingford Road|
|**Charity’s Principle Address**||Birmingham|
|Elayos 61 Bridge Street, Kington, HR5 3DJ|Jenny Sadler- Interim Chair (November 2024- Current)|B44 0BQ|
||John Andrew Hart (Sept 2019 - Current)||
|**Bank**|Maggie Coleman (Dec 2020 - Current)|**Independent Examiner**|
|Barclays Bank Plc|Abigail Vedder (Dec 2020 - November 2025)|Frank Harper ACMA|
|38 Hagley Rd, Birmingham B16 8PE|Lorraine Stevens (July 2023 - Current)
Grace Wheeler (September 2023 - November 2025)|Ashlea Solutions Limited
Falmoor|
||Wendy Ewins (November 2024-Current)|29 Meriden Road|
||Tonita Whittier (June 2025- Current)|Hampton-in-Ardon|
||Saras Arulampalam (June 2025- Current)|B92 0BS|
|||**Year ended 30th September 2025**|
**4**
## **Chair’s Report**
As I look back on 2024/25, I feel incredibly proud of the positive impact Elayos has continued to have of vulnerable families in Birmingham. The dedication and expertise of the staff and volunteers brings consistency, encouragement and confidence to the families who need us most.
I would like to thank my predecessor, John Andrew Hart, for the professionalism and time he brought to Elayos as Chair. I am delighted to be stepping up to Chair in an interim capacity whilst we search for someone to take the reigns for a full term.
I would also like to thank Elayos Co-Founder, Hope Plumb for her energy and dedication during her time with Elayos. Hope, alongside Co-Founder Amelia Sommers, had a vision to bring compassionate, trauma-informed support to vulnerable mothers in Birmingham, and without their combined efforts, the charity wouldn’t be here today. We wish Hope all the best in her new role.
The Board of Trustees has worked closely with CEO, Amelia Sommers, to ensure strong governance, continuity of services and appropriate oversight throughout this period of transition. Our priority has been to support the organisation to remain focused on its charitable purpose while strengthening the foundations needed for long term sustainability.
We would like to acknowledge the leadership shown by Amelia following her return from maternity leave, and the dedication of staff and volunteers who have supported families with care and professionalism during a time of change.
We are confident that the steps taken this year, such as the introduction of new operational and financial systems, and the recruitment of new staff, have strengthened the charity’s capacity, accountability and resilience. These changes reflect the Board’s commitment to good governance and continuous improvement.
As we look ahead, the Board is assured that Elayos is well positioned for the future, with clearer structures, stronger systems and a committed team aligned to the charity’s values and mission.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank our staff, volunteers, funders and partners for their continued support and trust over the past year.
**Jenny Sadler, Chair of Trustees**
**5**
## **CEO’s Report**
Looking back on the journey Elayos has had since becoming a CIO seven years ago, it’s incredibly rewarding to see how it’s grown to be the well respected charity it is today. Supporting 82 this year and hearing such positive feedback, reminds me what a privilege it is to lead an exceptional group of staff and volunteers who are delivering real change alongside families in Birmingham.
Returning from maternity leave in the middle of the year, I worked closely with the team and trustees to review operations and provide clear leadership during a time of change. Maintaining safe, compassionate and reliable services remained our priority, and I am proud of the professionalism and commitment shown by staff and volunteers throughout this period.
This year also provided an opportunity to strengthen how we work. We introduced a new database and financial systems to improve the way we record, monitor and report our activity, enabling better decision making and supporting the long term sustainability of the charity. These changes have already begun to improve the
efficiency and clarity across the organisation.
Alongside this, we expanded our services, bringing greater depth to our support by welcoming Corinne Thomsett as our Infant Feeding Specialist. Later in the year we also welcomed a new 4 day a week Doula, Lynette Bird to the team. Both bring fresh skills, energy and a strong commitment to our values. Their contributions, alongside the dedication of our continuing staff and volunteers, have helped to stabilise and strengthen our services.
Looking ahead, my focus is on embedding these improvements, supporting the continued development of our team and ensuring that Elayos remains responsive to the needs of the families we serve. I am grateful to our trustees, staff, volunteers and partners for their trust and collaboration during this year and for their continued commitment to our mission.
**Amelia Sommers, CEO**
**6**
## **Objectives**
Our team of qualified doulas, infant feeding specialists and trained volunteers provide personalised, continuous care to individuals referred to us by NHS professionals, support workers, charities, and other organisations supporting displaced families.
We focus on addressing the needs of women, particularly those who are isolated or vulnerable for reasons such as; homelessness, domestic violence, refugee/seeking asylum, trafficking, addictions, teenage pregnancy. This includes one-to-one support, advocacy, distribution of essential items for mothers and babies, unbiased information sharing, referrals to partner organisations, and other activities as determined by the needs of our clients. Our holistic approach ensures that every service user receives compassionate, tailored assistance to help them navigate their unique challenges.
**7**
## **How we’re meeting our objectives**
## **1. Continuity of Care**
- Assigning each client a dedicated key worker to support them throughout their journey with Elayos, ensuring consistent and personalised care.
- Providing additional volunteers alongside key workers to lengthen and strengthen the support available to clients.
- Infant feeding support provided from pregnancy right through to sign off.
## **3. Birth Support**
- Trained trauma informed Doula’s offer emotional, physical, and informational support during labour and delivery, tailored to the needs and preferences of the client.
- Our Doula’s work closely alongside midwives and other professionals in the birthing space to create calm and positive environments.
- Access to clothing, equipment and consumables via our Baby bank throughout.
## **2. Antenatal Support**
- Meeting regularly with clients during pregnancy to build rapport and establish a trusting relationship.
- Attending medical appointments with clients, where possible, to advocate for them, ensure they are heard, understand their treatment plans, and feel supported.
- Providing transport to appointments where possible to ensure fewer appointments are missed.
- Being available from the 38th week of pregnancy on a 24/7 on-call basis to provide support during labour and birth, ensuring no client is left alone.
- Equipping clients with baby equipment, clothing, toiletries where needed from our in house Baby Bank.
## **4. Postnatal Support**
- Supporting clients in establishing breastfeeding and/or bottle feeding based on their choice, ensuring they feel confident and informed.
- Conducting post-birth debrief sessions to help clients process their experiences emotionally and promote positive mental well-being.
- Assisting with practical tasks such as laundry and general housekeeping to ease the transition into parenthood.
- Encouraging and supporting clients to explore their local community and create their own independent, informal support networks with their baby, through trips to the supermarket, park, and other community spaces.
- Providing toy packs for our clients’ children when their baby arrives. We provide a luxury soft toy for comfort, craft items for entertainment and fidget toys to support those with additional needs.
- Signposting to other organisations where relevant.
- The use of volunteers for befriending allows us to enhance the support offered or continue working with clients for a longer period of time.
**8**
## **How we’re meeting our objectives**
## **5. Infant Feeding Support**
- Educating on the benefits of breastfeeding and ways to support their own infant feeding journey.
- Helping clients develop personalised infant feeding plans.
- Offering face-to-face practical and emotional support in the comfort of clients’ homes or accommodation.
- Providing guidance on the safe preparation of infant formula for those who choose to formula fee.
## **6. Baby Bank Services**
- Increasing the size of our baby bank unit to provide essential items for an increasing number of mothers and babies, including nappies, prams, Moses baskets, bottles, formula, and hospital bag items.
- Ensuring these items are distributed to clients who lack the means to purchase them themselves.
## **8. Advocacy and Emotional Support**
- Providing one-to-one advocacy for clients to navigate healthcare and social systems, ensuring their voices are heard.
- Offering ongoing emotional support to build confidence and resilience in clients during pregnancy and parenthood.
## **9. Training and Development**
- Training volunteers and doulas to deliver professional, Trauma-Informed, culturally sensitive, and compassionate care.
- Offering ongoing education to ensure the team stays informed on best practices.
## **10. Operational Management**
- Managing day-to-day operations, including referrals, safeguarding, scheduling, and the coordination of care plans.
## **7. Community Integration and Signposting**
- Ensuring the sustainability of services through strategic planning and resource management.
- Helping clients connect with local organisations, support groups, baby groups and community resources to build networks and reduce isolation.
- Facilitating integration into the local community through signposting and introductions to relevant services.
**9**
1st October 2024 - 30th September 2025 **Infant Feeding**
## **Practical Objectives**
Thanks to three years of funding from The Fairer Futures Fund, we were able to appoint a part-time Infant Feeding Specialist, Corinne Thomsett, who joined us in January 2025. Corinne, an experienced Breastfeeding Counsellor, provides vital support to clients by:
- Educating on the benefits of breastfeeding and ways to support their own infant feeding journey
- Helping clients develop personalised infant feeding plans
- Offering face-to-face practical and emotional support in the comfort of clients’ homes or accommodation
- Providing guidance on the safe preparation of infant formula for those who choose to formula feed
During the reporting period, 16 clients received infant feeding support, helping raise the breastfeeding rate among Elayos clients to 85%, significantly above the national average. A small grant from Birmingham City Council further enhanced the project, enabling the purchase of essential items such as slings and breast pumps to support breastfeeding clients.
**“Corinne helped me a lot. With my first child, I struggled a lot to breastfeed. It was very painful. But with Corinne helping me, this time was amazing! No pain, no problems at all. I’m very thankful.”**
**10**
## **Elayos Baby Bank**
The Elayos Baby Bank exists to support vulnerable families who have been referred to us for doula support, particularly those experiencing financial hardship, by providing essential items for mothers and babies. This service ensures that no family supported by Elayos goes without the basic necessities needed to care for their newborns, alleviating stress during a critical time in their lives. This year we have been fortunate enough to expand our baby bank, thanks to funding by The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust. This has allowed us to broaden the range of items we provide, especially for premature babies and families with multiple children by securing larger, more permanent storage facilities to accommodate these needs. Additionally, we have introduced a new database, allowing us to efficiently manage and communicate baby bank requests and donations.
**11**
## **Key Activities**
- Collection and Storage: The Baby Bank is managed at our dedicated storage unit where donations of new and pre-loved baby items are collected, sorted, and stored.
- Range of Items Provided: Clients receive essentials including: Nappies, wipes, and toiletries for baby care; Prams, Moses baskets, and other baby equipment; Clothing for babies and postpartum mothers; Bottles and formula for feeding support; Hospital bag essentials for labour and postpartum recovery.
- Distribution: Each client’s needs are assessed by their Elayos key worker, ensuring tailored support. Items are provided directly to families during home visits or community meetings, ensuring accessibility and discretion.
**12**
## **Membership in the Baby Bank Alliance**
Elayos is a proud member of the Baby Bank Alliance, a national network that connects baby banks across the UK to collaboratively support families in need.
Through this membership, we participate in monthly meetings that provide opportunities to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and discuss solutions to common challenges. The weekly newsletters keep us informed about policy updates, funding opportunities, and resources that strengthen our services.
## **Baby Bank Impact**
During the reporting period, 95.7% of referrals received support from the Elayos Baby Bank. **100% of respondents from our Client Evaluation said these contributions have significantly alleviated financial pressure for families** , allowing them to focus on themselves and their babies.
The impact of the Baby Bank extends beyond material support, fostering a sense of dignity and security for vulnerable families.
Being part of the Alliance enhances our capacity as a charity by fostering partnerships with like-minded organisations, equipping us with valuable insights, and aligning our work with broader national initiatives to combat child poverty.
**13**
## **Baby Bank Community Engagement**
The success of the Baby Bank is rooted in the generosity of community groups, and individual donors. These partnerships enable us to meet growing demand while ensuring that families receive high-quality, essential items.
Volunteers play a vital role in maintaining the Baby Bank by sorting donations, preparing care packages, and assisting with deliveries.
This collective effort strengthens community ties and demonstrates the power of collaboration in addressing local needs.
## **Baby Bank Challenges and Future Goals**
Despite its successes and growth this year, the Baby Bank continues to face challenges, such as insufficient weatherproofing of the building.
As a result, we have struggled to prevent mould and dampness, affecting items that cannot be stored in sealed containers. In addition, the out-of-city location and higher rental costs of the baby bank are problematic, prompting a search for a new, cheaper, city centre premises that includes office space. We hope to secure this at the start of our next reporting year.
**14**
## **Networking & Collaboration**
Elayos actively participates in key networking and collaborative forums to enhance our services and strengthen partnerships.
We are proud members of the Maternity Consortium, Pregnancy and Baby Charity Network (PBCN), Birmingham Early Help Networks, and Birmingham and Solihull Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (Bsol MNVP). These networks provide valuable opportunities for collaboration with similar organisations, sharing best practices, and staying informed about developments in maternal and neonatal care.
These meetings, held weekly or monthly, have been consistently attended by Elayos representatives. By contributing to discussions, learning from others, and forging connections, we ensure that our work aligns with broader efforts to support vulnerable women and families.
This engagement strengthens our ability to advocate for service users and adapt our approach to meet their evolving needs.
**15**
## **Baby Bank Community Engagement**
To ensure that we are well-equipped to support the families we work with, our team has undertaken a range of training programmes this year, in particular in leadership development. These have focused on enhancing skills, expanding knowledge, and maintaining best practices in line with our mission. Some of the courses we attended include:
Safeguarding Children & Young People, Safeguarding Adults at Harm of Risk, Birth Trauma Training with Make Birth Better, Perinatal Mental Health Training with Acacia, an Introduction to Trauma, Adversity, and Emotionally Safe Environments with Lucy Cavell and Antenatal Infant feeding session, by the Solihull Infant Feeding Team.
Our new Doula Lynette also completed her Doula training with Every Birth Matters allowing her to begin supporting client births.
Our CEO, Amelia Sommers, has been awarded a place on the highly regarded Clore Social Leadership Programme. Clore Social is an independent charity initiated by the Clore Duffield Foundation, which
supports emerging leaders in the third sector who are working to deliver progressive social change across the UK.
The 9 month programme, which is delivered in Cornwall, focuses on developing strategic leadership, reflection and organisational impact. Participation in this programme is expected to strengthen Elayos’ leadership capacity and will be particularly valuable as the charity begins to explore opportunities to expand its services to support families in Cornwall and other parts of the UK.
Elayos was also proud to be one of just 15 charities awarded support from the GSK Community Health Programme, receiving an unrestricted grant of £10,000 and a place on the King’s Fund Leadership Programme.
The programme supports charities tackling health inequalities, from access to care and quality of services to wider social factors like housing and environment. Co-Founder, Hope Plumb, took part in the six-month leadership training, gaining valuable insights to strengthen the charity’s impact at a time when rising
poverty and health disparities are increasing. This recognition highlights Elayos’ ongoing commitment to improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities for the most vulnerable communities.
**16**
## **Fundraising**
1st October 2024 - 30th September 2025.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed to the continued growth of our fundraising this year. Thanks to generous grants from the GSK Community Health Leadership Programme, Fairer Futures Fund, People’s Postcode Lottery, Global’s Make Some Noise, and the 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust, alongside the support of other funders, community groups, and individual donors, we have been able to expand our services—including the development of a dedicated Infant Feeding service. This year also saw the launch of our first Big Give Women and Girls Challenge campaign, which raised over £5,000 thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters. Additionally, we were thrilled to secure a place in the London Marathon, raising more than £2,000 for the charity.
**17**
## **Impact Data**
Elayos exists to tackle health inequalities by supporting communities most at risk of poor maternal and infant health outcomes. During the reporting year, the majority of our clients were from Asian Pakistani backgrounds—a community with some of the highest maternal and neonatal mortality rates in Birmingham. By providing culturally sensitive, tailored support, we aim to improve outcomes for families who are disproportionately affected by these inequalities.
Our impact data continues to highlight the significant need for support in East Birmingham, where maternal and infant health outcomes remain among the poorest in the UK. High levels of deprivation, perinatal mental health challenges, and infant mortality—particularly within marginalised communities—underscore the importance of our work. Through targeted, communityled interventions, Elayos is directly addressing these challenges and ensuring vulnerable mothers and babies receive timely and appropriate support.
During the reporting period, we received **82 referrals** , the majority of which came from NHS partners, with midwives accounting for the highest proportion of
referrals. However, we still continue to receive and accept self referrals. Most clients were booked at Heartlands Hospital, followed by Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Good Hope Hospital, and Midlands Metropolitan Hospital. While this broadly mirrors the referral pattern of the previous year, we saw an increase in referrals from Birmingham Women’s Hospital. This provides a clear indication of where we should continue to strengthen relationships and develop partnerships in the year ahead.
As in the previous reporting year, clients from Asian or Asian Pakistani backgrounds represented the highest proportion of referrals, followed by White British and Black or Black British–African backgrounds, with referrals spread relatively evenly across other ethnic groups.
**Data note** : During the reporting year, Elayos transitioned to a new case management database. As a result, some historical data was more complex to extract and analyse. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, figures should be viewed as indicative. The new system will enable more robust and consistent reporting in future years.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
18
Reported Outcomes
75%
said that their doula
supported them emotionally
63.2%
during the birth
90%
Strongly agreed that having
a doula contributed to this positive
Strongly agreed or agreed that
experience the other 36.8% did not
their doula helped them to feel
have Doula support at the birth
physically prepared for their
upcoming births
73.3%
of those asked strongly agreed or
68.2%
agreed that having their Doula at
the birth improved their mental
Of our clients had a positive
health during labour
birth experience
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
19
Reported Outcomes
100%
either strongly agreed or agreed that
receiving items from the Baby Bank
alleviated their financial concerns and
95.7% helped meet their babies’ needs.
of the respondents either strongly agreed
95.2%
or agreed that receiving continued support
from their doula after birth had a positive
strongly agreed or agreed that
impact on their mental health.
meeting their doula before the
birth helped to support their
mental health
66.7%
either strongly agreed
or agreed that working with
86.9%
their doula contributed to
52.2%
improving their family’s
of clients either strongly agreed or
either agreed or strongly agreed that the health.
agreed that their doula provided
support provided helped them connect to
practical support postnatally
their local community.
**----- End of picture text -----**
**20**
**Voices of Impact: Stories From Our Community**
The Elayos Baby Bank exists to support vulnerable families who have been referred to us for doula support, particularly those experiencing financial hardship, by providing essential items for mothers and babies. This service ensures that no family supported by Elayos goes without the basic necessities needed to care for their newborns, alleviating stress during a critical time in their lives.
This year we have been fortunate enough to expand our baby bank, thanks to funding by The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust. This has allowed us to broaden the range of items we provide, especially for premature babies and families with multiple children by securing larger, more permanent storage facilities to accommodate these needs. Additionally, we have introduced a new database, allowing us to efficiently manage and communicate baby bank requests and donations.
**21**
## **Lynette’s testimony**
I am passionate about the work I do with Elayos because it allows me to support women facing significant social injustices,domestic violence, financial instability/abuse, and emotional or physical abuse. Many of the women I work with experience these challenges daily, and although most of their struggles I have not experienced, growing up in a workingclass/non-working family background in Birmingham, I do know what it’s like to face adversity and navigate a world that often overlooks you.
As a doula, my primary role is to support women through pregnancy, labour, and birth, but my work with Elayos goes far beyond that. The baby at the end of the journey is a beautiful little treasure, but the process advocating, empowering, and being there for these women is just as important. It’s about being a steady support in whatever space they need, whether it’s navigating their pregnancy, their personal challenges, or their journey to a better future.
The women I work with teach me something new every day. Their strength, resilience, and determination to overcome obstacles inspire me and make me a better person. Working for Elayos provides me with the opportunity to advocate for and empower some of the most marginalised women in our city, and for that, I am deeply grateful.”
**22**
## **Magdalena’s Infant Feeding story**
_**(Name has been changed to maintain confidentiality)**_
Magdalena experienced a huge amount of pain when she fed her first baby which led to her ending breastfeeding before she wanted to.
Her experience with her second baby was vastly different due to the support she received from our Infant Feeding Specialist, and she managed to breastfeed pain free. “Thank you so much for helping me with breastfeeding. I’m breastfeeding pain-free. I’m very happy!!!”
**23**
## **What our clients have said about their time with Elayos this year**
“Claire was amazing listener and big helper for me and ***** She did help me mentally and also reduce my costs for the new baby. Thank you”
“I want give thanks from my heart to Elayos. They help me a lot. I got lots of support from them. This was really needed in my pregnancy situation. I was so worried about my baby stuff. They give me all my baby stuff. After my baby birth they also support me a lot. Even I share all of my things to them this make me relax. Special I want to mention Claire name ,she is such a nice person I feel so happy when I meet with her also I saw my baby like her ,also he smiling with her. If I compared thanks with their helpful service it will be small world. Once again I want to say that I’m completely satisfied about their service”
“I have the best time with Elayos. The support was amazing and it really helps me a lot both physically and financially.”
“Thank you very much, I’ve enjoyed the help and the time talking together. So my doula helped inform me around expectations of birth, my doula helped provide items from baby bank such as a sling wrap, breastfeeding pillow. My Doula brought small white cardigans for my son as he was born prem so was really small and we struggled to find anything to fit him. My Doula helped support me with breastfeeding showing different methods to help build my milk supply. I had a positive experience with Elayos and would defo recommend their services.”
“It was such a great time and I feel very supported with that I’m physically and mentally stable now.”
“It’s been so worthwhile! I am grateful beyond words for the immense support I have been shown by Claire! After losing my job, I was worried about how tight things would be but Elayos stepped in to help me mentally, and physically too, with items from the Baby Bank. I could not have done this without Elayos!”
“Good time, Suzie helped me a lot, very grateful.”
“Glad that I met Suzie and had Suzie to talk to, Suzie fulfilled grandparent love with my older 5year old daughter. It meant a lot.”
“It was my first child and my Doula made it an amazing experience. I was very scared when I first met her thinking if I’m gone be able to take care of a baby but with her help I made it. Me and my baby are very lucky and grateful to have had her in my life and part of this experience .She is a blessing.”
“It has been an amazing journey with Elayos so much appreciate all the love encouragement support and kindness I received on behalf of my family we say a very big thank you to ELAYOS.”
**24**
## **Structure, Governance & Management**
Elayos have a constitution as it’s governing document. Elayos is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Trustees are appointed and elected. The charity does not currently have any significant liabilities.
**25**
## **Reserves**
The Board are committed to maintain unrestricted funds not committed or invested in fixed assets i.e. ‘free reserves’, at a level of between three and six months of unrestricted expenditure. In the light of activities and funding, this should provide sufficient funds to continue the current activities of the charity, provide for core posts and give sufficient time to consider and replace existing funding sources should there be a significant change in present funding arrangements.
As at the 30th September 2025 the reserves policy was complied with and free reserves equated to around three months unrestricted expenditure.
With the uncertainties in the economy, the trustees continue to note the importance of maintaining adequate reserves to maintain and adapt services in response to rapidly changing circumstances. The charity will continue to strive towards operating within its available funding during the next financial year. The Board is acutely aware that most of the charity’s activities are driven by restricted funding and hence, costs must be managed accordingly. Any core costs not covered by restricted funds still need to be met to keep the charity in operation, so raising sufficient unrestricted funds in future to comply with the reserves policy is crucial. It is the general policy to apply as much funding as possible to charitable objectives and avoid accumulating excessive cash reserves. The reserves policy will continue to be reviewed annually.
**26**
## For the year ended 30th September 2025 **Finances - Trustee’s Report**
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes and comply with the charity’s constitution, the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
**Objectives and Activities** The charity’s objectives are set out in its constitution. The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when planning and reviewing the charity’s activities.
**Achievements and Performance**
During the year, the charity continued to carry out activities in furtherance of its charitable purposes. The trustees should insert a concise summary of the charity’s main activities, achievements and outcomes for the year.
**Financial Review** Total income for the year was £161,014 and total expenditure was £169,255, resulting in net expenditure of £8,241. Total funds at 30 September 2025 were £76,409, comprising restricted funds of £25,270 and unrestricted funds of £51,139.
**Reserves and Governance**
The trustees monitor the level of reserves to ensure the charity can continue to meet its obligations and deliver its charitable activities. The charity is governed by its constitution and is administered by its trustees, who are responsible for the strategic direction and control of the charity.
**27**
## For the year ended 30th September 2025 **Independent Examiners Report**
We report to the trustees on our examination of the financial statements of Elayos (the Charity) for the year ended 30 September 2024.
We have completed our examination. We confirm that no matters have come to our attention in connection with the examination giving us cause to believe that in any material respect:
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the Charity (and its directors for the purposes of Company Law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied ourselves that the financial statements of the Charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the act 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, we report in respect of our examination of the Charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out our examination we have followed all the applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
Since the Charity’s gross income exceeded £25,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), which is one of the listed bodies.
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act: or
2. the financial statements do not accord with these records; or
3. the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or 4. the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Ireland (FRS 102).
We have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
Frank Harper ACMA 18th July 2026
**28**
## **Statement of Financial Activities** For the year ended 30th September 2025
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year and has been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, FRS 102 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102). All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
**29**
## **Balance Sheet** As of 30th September 2025
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, the Constitution of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” and the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102. The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements were approved by the trustees and authorised for issue on: Date: 14th July 2026 Signed: Trustee Name: Jenny Sadler
**30**
##
For the year ended 30th September 2025
## **1. Accounting policies**
|**. Accounting policies**||
|---|---|
|**1.01 Charity information**|**1.03 Going concern**|
|Elayos is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
(CIO) registered in England and Wales. The registered|At the time of approving the fnancial statements,
the trustees have a reasonable expectation that|
|offce is Southfelds Farm, Packington Lane, Coleshill,|the charity has adequate resources to continue in|
|Birmingham.|operational existence for the near future. Thus, the|
||trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of|
|**1.02 Accounting convention**|accounting in preparing the fnancial statements.|
|The fnancial statements have been prepared in
accordance with the charity’s Constitution, the|**1.04 Charitable funds**|
|Charities Act 2011, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting|Unrestricted funds are available for use at the|
|Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland”,|discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their|
|and the Statement of Recommended Practice:|charitable objectives.|
|Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing||
|their accounts in accordance with FRS 102 (Charities
SORP (FRS 102)). The charity is a public beneft entity
as defned by FRS 102. The fnancial statements have
been prepared under the historical cost convention,|Restricted funds are subject to specifc conditions
imposed by donors as to how they may be used. The
purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out
in the notes to the fnancial statements.|
|unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting||
|policy.||
## **1.05 Income**
Income is recognised when the charity is entitled to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid is recognised when the related donation is recognised.
Legacies are recognised when the charity is entitled to the legacy, receipt is probable and the amount can be measured reliably. If entitlement is uncertain or the amount cannot be measured reliably, the legacy is disclosed as a contingent asset where appropriate.
**31**
##
For the year ended 30th September 2025
## **1. Accounting policies (continued) 1.6 Expenditure 1.7 Cash and cash equivalents**
**1.6 Expenditure** Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities. **1.8 Debtors** Debtors are amounts due to the charity, including amounts arising from charitable activities, grants, Gift Aid recoverable, prepayments and other accrued income, as applicable. Debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price and are subsequently measured at amortised cost, less any impairment. A provision for impairment of debtors is made where there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivable.
Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated based on time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the assets use.
## **1.9 Creditors**
Creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in furtherance of the charity’s activities. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost. **1.10 Employee benefits** The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employees’ services are received. Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the Charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of any employee or to provide termination benefits. **1.11 Retirement benefits** Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
**32**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
For the year ended 30th September 2025
## **2. Critical accounting estimates and judgements**
## **4. Income from charitable activities**
In applying the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
## **5. Raising funds**
## **3. Donations and legacies**
## **6. Expenditure on charitable activities**
**33**
For the year ended 30th September 2025 **Notes to the financial statements**
## **7. Movement in funds**
## **8. Debtors**
The restricted funds represent income received for specific charitable purposes and are available only for those purposes. Other restricted funds represent 24 smaller funders under £10,000
## **9. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
- The William Cadbury Chritable Trust Head Doula Salary Costs - nPower Business Solution Foundation Baby Bank - Global’s Make Some Noise Community Doula Salary - Fairer Futures Fund Infant Feeding Project - Awards for All England Community Doula Project